Thrill of the Hunt
When The Design Social Pop Up visited Palm Beach in March, there were plenty of event highlights. But those lucky enough to catch Alessandra’s keynote talk, The Thrill of the Hunt, were treated to an insider’s perspective on finding those items that make a great interior truly shine.
Where you have been is taking you where you are going.
All lovers of art and design are hunters, constantly in the process of discovering our own taste, of new product, sources and references. The strongest inspiration is often our own origin story. Alessandra grew up surrounded by antiques in a 16th century building and neighborhood in Rome, where the likes of Michaelangelo and Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino bought their paints and canvases nearby. Her grandfather was an art historian for the Vatican, and an appreciation for the art and objects in museums and churches came early. Living with that oldness is part of Italian design culture, and mixing in more modern textile and furniture makers is part of what makes the work of greats like Renzo Mongiardino so iconic.
Find your influencers.
One decorator that greatly impacted Alessandra’s taste was Geoffrey Bennison. He began as an antiques dealer in London, and mixed elements into English interiors we had never seen before, introducing a new freedom into classic architecture. Nancy Lancaster was a Virginian who went to England and also helped redefine decoration, relaxing interiors with an American’s sense of openness and hospitality. David Hicks is an inspiration in mixing it up, finding boldness with color and new shapes, such as a suite of 18th century porcelains installed in a pyramid form to inject modernity.
In the 1980s, Mario Buatta hunted like no one else. “The Prince of Chintz” traveled to chateaux and country houses all over Europe and the UK in the search for inspiration, and educated himself endlessly. Stephen Sills personifies a modern day collector. Every element of his interiors is chosen with great regard, from the architecture to the last plate on the table, and Alessandra regards him as “absolute genius” and a true hunter.
Enjoy the process, make a plan.
We live in a world of “the easy button” and much as the ability to zap a quick meal for dinner is sometimes necessary in a modern world, it’s important to pull back and take the time to find, and do, something great. When preparing a special meal for a friend, we scour menus, make a list, and go to the market— it’s the same in decorating.
Thinking ahead and dreaming about the special pieces we’re looking for can be a much greater reward than clicking on a quick purchase.
There's no substitute for the in-person experience.
When a decorator on a mission is having a sourcing spree, every antique shop, auction house and estate sale is a potential gold mine. Alessandra admits she could happily look at 1,000 tables before choosing the right one, and never knows where it might turn up. Being online is nothing like standing in front of an actual piece of furniture and talking to the person who has the same design bug as you. Research is an important part of the process, but at some point one has to put the book away. Go see your dealers in person— real life conversations and visuals are irreplaceable.
Inspiration is everywhere.
Wherever you travel, visit the local historic homes and museums. Alessandra herself has never missed a trip to the Victoria & Albert in London, and always finds a fresh reference. These experiences inform and prep us to go off in search of our own perfect finds.
Our Casa Branca Audrey pattern references the hand painted walls and chair upholstery in Drottningholm Palace, outside Stockholm. The early 19th century archived textile, (featuring a flower named Audrey, for you Little Shop of Horrors fans) was adapted and reimagined as a fresh new take on chintz.
The Casa Branca Brighton Collection is inspired by Brighton Pavilion in England, a seaside pleasure palace built for the Prince Regent in the early 19th century. His embracing of color and exoticism is a huge influence in Branca interiors.
We created our Atelier & Showroom in West Palm Beach so that people would have a place to engage and be inspired, and we enjoy the process as much as you. Stop by and see us whenever the mood strikes, and in the meantime– keep enjoying the hunt!
